Combination magnetic and mechanical latch



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Aug. 24, 1965 BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETICAND MECHANICAL LATCH Filed Nov. 19, 1963 BY m ma M A 770/?A/E/5.

Aug. 24, 1965 1. BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL LATCHFiled Nov. 19, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "In-Er INVENTOR. F I 7 [RV/N6 L.BfIP/(OW/TZ WWW ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 24, 1965 l. L- BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL LATCH5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 U Wu RM E 00 N TK R mm m 7 m M AUnited States Patent m 3,201,960 COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANIQALLATCH Irving L. Berkowitz, flceanside, Long Island, N.Y., assignor toKason Hardware Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New YorkFiled Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,7% 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-450) Thisinvention relates to door latches and especially latches forrefrigerator doors. object of the present invention is to provide animproved door latch incorporating improved magnetic means for quicklyclosing and holding the door as it moves into latching position, andwherein the latching mechanism includes improved means for breaking themagnetic hold on the door during initial unlatching of the door.

Another object is to provide a door latch having im proved striker meanswhich permits simple adjustment of the striker means in a plurality ofdirections to compensate for wear or to accommodate misalignment.

A further object is to provide a door latch of the above ilescgibed typewith provision for cylinder locking of the atc .Another object is toprovide a door latch of the indicated type in which a permanent magnetis provided for the magnetic door holding operation and in which themagnet is mounted for swivel movement to compensate for any misalignmentof the parts of the latch and for aiding in the breaking of the magnetichold on the door during initial unlatching movement of the latch.

A further object is generally to provide an improved mechanical magneticlatch which is especially useful as a latch for refrigerator doors. a

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be mode fully understood from the following descriptionof the invention considered in connection with the accompanyingillustrative drawings ofa presently preferred embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a door latch in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-.-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

'FIG. 5 is. a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

, FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of part of the striker assembly of the latch;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another part of the striker assembly of thelatch;

. FIG. 10, is a horizontal sectional view of part of the latch, similarto FIG. 2, and showing the relative positions of the parts at thecompletion of the initial unlatching movement; and

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of part of the latch, similar toFIG. 2, and showing the relative positions of the parts of the latch inthe locked condition thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the latch is shown inconnection with a refrigerator wherein the door of the refrigerator isrepresented at 12 and the door jamb at 14. The latch comprises a handlehousing assembly 16 which is suitably secured to door 12, and a strikerassembly 18 which is secured to the door jamb. Handle housing assembly16 comprises a housing 18 which is Patented Aug. 24, 1965 secured to thedoor by any suitable means, as for example by mounting pins which extendthrough holes 20, provided in the housing. An elongated handle 22 ispivotally connected to the housing on a pivot pin 24 at a position whichis spaced longitudinally from the operating end 26 of the handle. Pin 24is fixed to the housing. Handle end 26 is provided with a projectingpart 28 which operates a latch member 30 that is pivotally mounted onhousing 18 by a pivot pin 32 which is fixed to the housing. The oppositeend of the handle is shaped to provide the usual handle part 34 by whichthe handle may be grasped.

Latch member 30 is spring biased into a normal latching position asillustrated by FIG. 2. More particularly, a torsion spring 36 has itscoiled part surrounding pin 32. One arm 38 of the spring extends into acutout 4t) provided in housing 18 and the arm bears against the adjacentwall 42 of the cutout. The opposite end 44 of the spring bears againstan adjacent wall 46 provided in a recess 48 in the latch member. It isto be noted, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, that the torsion spring ispositioned in recess 48' between spaced side walls 56 which form thesides of the recess.

The main body portion of the latch member is triangular in shape and atone corner of the triangle there is a bearing surface 52 against whichpart 28 of the handle bears for operating the latch member. It is to benoted, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 10 and 11 that the pivot 32 for thelatch member is positioned in offset relation with surface 52 to permitrotary actuation of the latch member. A bearing surface 54 extendstransversely from surface 52 toward another corner or heel 56 of thetriangular body portion of the latch member. Surface 54 slants away frompivotpin 32 and bears against a companion slanting surface or stop 58provided on part of housing 18. The remaining corner 60 of thetriangular shaped body portion of the latch member is provided with anextending refiexed part or hook 62 which is adapted to engage thestriker end or tongue 64 of striker assembly 18 for latching the door.The outer surface 66 of the latch member is curved to provide a camsurface which strikes the beveled surface 68 of the striker end, duringclosing movement of the door, to rotate the latch member in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2, to clear the striker. When part 62 ofthe latch member moves past the striker, spring 36 causes the latchmember to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to engage the striker,and the latch member is resiliently held in that position to hold thelatch in its closed position, as illustrated by FIG. 2. The spring alsobiases surface 52 against projecting part 28. of the handle, whereby inthe latched position of the latch, handle 22 is biased in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 2. The handle is provided with a projection70 which is to the right of handle pivot 24. The projection abutsagainst a surface or stop 72 provided on housing 18 whereby the handleis resiliently held in its latched position illustrated by FIG. 2 and isprevented from being moved clockwise. Surface 58 is a stop for the latchmember.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 18 includes a pair of spaced sidewalls 74 which form a space in which is pivotally mounted a pair ofpermanent plate-like magnets 76 which are in adjacent side-by-siderelation. More particularly, a pivot pin 78 extends between walls 74 andmay be secured to one of the walls, as shown in FIG. 3.

A pair of pole plates 86 are positioned at opposite outer sides ofmagnets 76, between walls 74, and the plates and magnets have axiallyaligned apertures through which pin 78 extends, whereby the pole platesand magnets are pivotally mounted on the pin. The lengths of the poleplates and magnets are the same and, as best seen in FIG. 2, areslightlyless than the longitudinal distance between walls 82 and S4 of thehousing to permit slight swivel t a I movement of the magnets and thepole'plates. The widths of the magnets are slightly less than the widthsof the pole end 34 of the handle is grasped and moved in acounterclockwise direction, from the dot-dash position illustratedplates so that the magnets do not abut against the striker assembly 18,but'only the pole plates do. This avoids any. I

, possible damage to the magnets which are softer than the comprising aweb 89 having a longitudinally extending slot 90 through most of itslength. A pair of screws 92'exswivel or floating mount of the magnet andits pole plates tend through the slot and are screwed into door jamb 14to secure the striker insertto the door jamb. It is to be observedthatslot 90 permits longitudinal adjustment of the striker insert on thedoor jamb. The oppositeends of the insert are provided with Wall parts94 and 96 which extend inwardly from web 89 towardfthe striker'86; The Iouter surface of end wall 94 isprovided with parallel serrations 98which extend widthwise lot the end wall. 7 The inner surface of Striker86 comprises an end wall 96 is provided with similar and parallelserrations-98. i a a. V f

' elongated web 100 which is' shaped at one of its ends to form a tongue64 previously referred to. A pair of opposite end walls 102 and 104" 1extend outwardlyfrom web 100 and end wall 102 is positioned outwardly ofend wall 94- of the striker insert, ad-

j acent thereto. 1 End wall 104 is positioned inwardly of end wall 96 ofthe striker'insert, adjacent thereto. The inner V surface of end wall102 is provided with comating serra:

tions 98 similar to serrations 98 of end, wall 94 for interengagementwith the latter to adjustably position end wall 102 on en-dwall 94.Similarly, the outer surface of end wall 104 is provided with comatingserrations 98, similar a to the serrations provided on the inner-surfaceofend wall I a 96 of the striker insertfor interengagementlwith such serrationsto adjustably position end wall 104 on' end wall' 96. It is to'benoted that web 89; of the striker'insert is provided with a cutout 106through wall 104 extends.

To adjustably secure whichthe end of end the end walls of the strikerand striker insert to each other, end wall 102 is provided'with push thedoor toward a closing. position.

inFIG. 10 to the solid line position illustrated therein. 'Initialmovement of the handle causes projection 28 to move against surface 52of the latch member, causing the latch member to pivot in aclockwisedirection about its pivot pin 32. This movement or the latch membercauses its surface 56 to abut against the striker end of the strikersimultaneously as the book 62 of the latch member moves out ofengagementwith the striker end. The abutting of surface 56 of the latch member'against the striker end breaks the magnetic grip between the pole platesand the striker to release the door 'for' opening movement. The

help in the bre'aking of the magnetic grip. 1

1 To close and latch thedoo r, all that isnecess'ary is to 7 Edge 66 ofthe hook of the latch member strikes surface 68 of the striker end andis cammed in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to clear thestriker end and, thereafter,

' is moved back by spring 36 to engage the striker for its latchingposition. As the pole'platesmove near striker 86, the plates aremagnetically attracted tothe striker and quickly move into contact toprovide a quick and positivelatching and closing movement of the door.

f While'I have shown and described a presently preferred embodiment-ofthe inventionjit will be understoodthat I the inventionmay be embodiedin a form which is diiferent "from what is 'shown or describedherein'but which inorporates the principles and-idea's of the presentinvention as set forth in the appended'c'laims.

.I claim: V 1 1 1. A latch comprising, a striker adaptedto beattached toa door jamb, 'support means adapted to be attached to a door, anactuating handle mounted for latching and unlat'ching movement on saidsupport means, a latch member mounted for' latching and-unlatchingmovement on said 'support means and having a first partin the path ofmovement ofsaid handlefor engagement by the latter j V whichfit engagessaid striker to an unlatched position in to move said latch member froma latched position in which it is released from said striker,andspringfmeans engaging 'said' latch member and biasing 'thelatt'ertoward .said' latched position,- said latch member having another partpositioned to press said ,striker during unlatching movement ofsaidhandle to push I said su'pportineans ..away from. said striker andmagnetic means mounted 104 of the striker is provided with a threadedhole. 116

It is to be observed that screws 112 and 118 maybeon saidv support meansand positioned to engage saidstrikan the latchedp'osition of said latch,said striker being loosenedwherein the striker may be moved toward or;

away from theinsert on the serrationsto adjust the;.posi

tion of striker end 64 with respect to hook 66 if latch. member 30. Theserrations help keepthestriker parallel to the insert and also helpprevent any movement-ofthe striker after screws 112 and 118 aretighteneddue to the interengagement of the companion'serrations.

Provision is made forilocking latch.memb'er'30 in its latched position'.For this purpose, theend .of housing 18 is pnovidedwith anaperture120'in which is suitably mounted a'key-operated locking cylinder'122-to which is" attached a; locking cam 123 having a projection 124.-The cylinder-may be rotated 180, from'the positionshown in:

FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 11, wherein'projection 124 abutsagainst edge 126 of wall '50 of the latch member topreventmovement-thereof.

The operation of the latchwill now be' described with respect to FIGS. 2and 10. In the latchedpositionof'latch "10 shown in FIG 2, the lockingcylinder'has been roin contact with the outer surface of web of thestriker the striker by magnetism; To unlatch 'thelatch, handle (FIGS. 2and 3)-wherein the pole plates are held against I i made ofimaterial.which is attracted 'tovsaid magnetic means, and said another part ofsaid latch member being operable to break the 'magnetic grip betweensaid magnetic means and said striker during initial unlatching movementof said handle. s

2. A latch as definedin claim-1, said magnetic means being pivotallymounted on said support means.

3. A latch as defined in, claim, 1, said striker comprising a firstelongated member having a longitudinally extending mounting slot forlongitudinal adjustment 'of the positionfof said member'on thedoor jamb,said elongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls,

anda second elongated member having an end positioned tobe engaged bysaid latch member in the latched position" of said latch and having .apair of longitudinally spaced end walls positioned adjacent a'corresponding end wall of saidfirst member, confronting wall surfaces of"adjacent end walls having-'comating interengagingm'eans to permittransverse adjusting movement of :theen'd walls of said second memberwith respect to the endwalls of said first member, and means toreleasably secure adjacent end walls to each other.

'4. A latch asu'defined in claim 1 said support means having a.recess,"a key-operated cylinder lock mounted ffori rotation infsaid"recess. and having alocking cam {attached thereto land movabletherewith into position to engage said latch member in the latchedposition thereof to lock said latch member.

5. The combination of claim 1, said striker having a tongue, and saidlatch member having a hook for engaging said tongue in the latchedposition of said latch member.

6. The combination of claim 1, and a cam member mounted for rotation onsaid support means, said cam member having a projection which is clearof said latch member in one position of said cam memberand which is inengagement with said latch member in another position of said cam memberfor preventing movement of said latch member.

7. A latch as defined in claim ll, said striker comprising a firstmember having means for positioning said member on said door jamb atdifierent positions longitudinally of said first member, and a secondmember mounted on said first member for adjustable movement transverselyof said first member.

, to move said latch member from a latched position in which it engagessaid striker to an unlatched position in which it is released from saidstriker, and spring means engaging said latch member and biasing thelatter toward said latched position, said striker comprising a firstelongated member having a longitudinally extending mounting slot forlongitudinal adjustment of the position of said member on the door jamb,said elongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls,and a second elongated member substantially coextensive with said firstelongated member and having an end positioned to be engaged by saidlatch member in the latched position of said latch and having a pair oflongitudinally spaced end walls each positioned adjacent a correspondingend wall of said first member, confronting Wall surfaces of adjacent endwalls having comating interengaging means to permit transverse adjustingmovement of the end walls of said second member with respect to the endwalls of said first members, and means to releasably secure adjacent endwalls to each other.

9. A latch comprising, a striker adapted to be attached to a door jamb,support means adapted to be attached to a door, an actuating handlemounted for latching and unlatching movement on said support means, alatch member mounted for latching and unlatching movement on saidsupport means and having a first part in the path of movement of saidhandle for engagement by the latter to move said latch member from alatched position in which it engages said striker to an unlatchedposition in which it is released from said striker, and spring meansengaging said latch member and biasing the latter toward said latchedposition, said latch member having another part positioned to press saidstriker during unlatching movement of said handle to push said supportmeans away from said striker, said striker comprising a first elongatedmember having a longitudinally extending mounting slot for longitudinaladjustment of the position of said member on the door jamb, saidelongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls, and

a second elongated member substantially coextensive with said firstmember and having an end positioned to be engaged by said latch memberin the latched position of said latch and having a pair oflongitudinally spaced end walls positioned each adjacent a correspondingend wall of said first member, confronting wall surfaces of adjacent endwalls having comating interengaging means to permit transverse adjustingmovement of the end walls of said second member with respect to the endwalls of said first member, and means to releasably secure adjacent endwalls to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,485 2/39Roedding 292-226 2,252,144 8/41 Taylor et al. 292-251.5 2,798,754 7/57Russell 292-34l.l8 2,947,560 8/60 Klee 292-2515 X 3,045,465 7/62 Larson153 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,926 1/ 61 Great Britain.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

1. A LATCH COMPRISING, A STIKER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A DOOR JAMB,SUPPORT MEANS ADATPED TO BE ATACHED TO A DOOR, AN ACTUATING HANDLEMOUNTED FOR LATCHING AND UNLATCHING MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, ALATCH MEMEBR MOUNTED FOR LATCHINE AND UNLATCHING MOVEMENT ON SAIDSUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A FIRSST PART IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAIDHANDLE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE LATTER TO MOVE SAID LATCH MEMBER FROM ALATCHED POSITION IN WHICH IT ENGAGES SAID STRIKER TO AN UNLATCHED POSITION IN WHICH IT IS RELEASED FROM SAID STRIKER, AND SPRING MEANS ENGAGINGSAID LATCH MEMBER AND BIASING THE LATTER TOWARD SAID LATCHED POSITION,SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING ANOTHER PART POSITIONED TO PRESS SAID STRIKERDURING UNLATCHING MOVEMENNT OF SAID HANDLE TO PUSH SAID SUPPORT MEANSAWAY FROM SAID STRIKER AND MAGNETIC MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANSAND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE SAID STRIKER IN THE LATCHED POSITION OF SAIDLATCH, SAID STRIKER BEING MADE OF MATERIAL WHICH IS ATTRACTED TO SAIDMAGNETIC MEANS, AND SAID ANOTHER PART OF SAID LATCH MEMBER BEINGOPERABLE TO BREAK THE MAGNETIC GRIP BETWEEN SAID MAGNETIC MEANS AND SAIDSTRIKER DURING INITIAL UNLATCHING MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE.